Micromyrtus capricornia
| Micromyrtus capricornia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Micromyrtus |
| Species: | M. capricornia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micromyrtus capricornia | |
Micromyrtus capricornia is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of central eastern Queensland. It is a shrub with slightly drooping branchlets, overlapping, narrowly egg-shaped leaves and small white flowers.
Description[edit]
Micromyrtus capricornia is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and has slightly pendulous branchlets. Its leaves overlap each other, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long, 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) wide on a petiole 0.20–0.25 mm (0.0079–0.0098 in) long with prominent oil glands. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long with 2 bracteoles about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long at the base, but that fall off as the flowers open. The 5 sepal lobes are more or less round, 0.20–0.25 mm (0.0079–0.0098 in) long and 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) wide. The 5 petals are white, round to egg-shaped and 1.0–1.4 mm (0.039–0.055 in) long and 1.0–1.3 mm (0.039–0.051 in) wide. There are five stamens, each opposite a petal, the filaments about 0.3 mm (0.012 in) long. Flowering occurs throughout the year.[2]
Taxonomy[edit]
Micromyrtus capricornia was first formally described in 1997 by Anthony Bean in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected near Comet in 1993.[3] The specific epithet (capricornia) refers to the Tropic of Capricorn, near to which this species occurs.[2]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This species of micromyrtus grows on ridge tops from Mount Coolon to near Rolleston in a narrow band about 150 km (93 mi) from the coast of cental eastern Queensland.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Micromyrtus capricornia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Bean, Anthony R. (1997). "A revision of Micromyrtus Benth. (Myrtaceae) in Queensland". Austrobaileya. 4 (4): 464. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Micromyrtus capricornia". APNI. Retrieved 12 September 2023.